World Cup Group E France 3-0 Honduras Benzema 44 pen, 72, Valladares og 48 France made a comfortable start to their World Cup campaign with a 3-0 success over ten man Honduras whose physical style of play won them few friends.
Since reaching the World Cup final in 2006 the French record in tournament football has been less then impressive. One win, two group exits and a player revolt four years ago in South Africa left them with a lot to do in winning back the support of the French public.
Qualifying for Brazil has gone some way to restoring their credibility and impressive displays like this can only help further their cause back home.
Admittedly their opponents did not test them, but the physical nature of the Honduras team meant France had to keep their control and let their superiority provide the foundation for a win.
Even before Honduras had been reduced to ten men just before the break, Les Bleus had been in total control hitting the woodwork twice through a Antoine Griezmann header and a Blaise Matuidi shot which was brilliantly palmed onto the crossbar by keeper Valladares.
Mathieu Valbuena and Antoine Griezmann were a class act in midfield whilst forward Karim Benzema was a constant threat in attack. For Honduras, as England found out in a friendly, their main tactic was to break up the French rhythm with varying degrees of fouls, both niggly and late.
Wilson Palcios had already seen yellow for a scuffle with Paul Pogba which saw the french youngster booked for retaliating. And it was this booking which was to see Honduras reduced to ten men just before half-time.
With the game looking to end scoreless at the interval despite France's dominance, Pogba and Palacios clashed again inside the penalty area with the latter barging into the back of the former.
A second yellow was shown to the Honduran and after a long delay Benzema stroked home the spot kick.
A second goal quickly followed just after the break to end any hopes of a Honduras fightback and ease the nerves of the French team. And history was made in Les Bleus doubling their lead as goal-line technology was used for the first time at a World Cup tournament.
In the 48th minute keeper Valladares was adjudged to have nudged Benzema's shot over the line after the ball rebounded against him from the inside of the post. Unfortunately the procedure for showing the ball had crossed the line was mired in confusion as the initial replay, shown throughout the stadium, announced it was not a goal before finally giving the correct decision.
The French players remained calm in the face of provocation from their opponents and their professionalism was rewarded with 18 minutes remaining as Benzema reacted quickly to Mathieu Debuchy's blocked effort to fire high into the roof of the net.
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